Dutton Edward

The Finnuit

Finnish Culture and the Religion of Uniqueness

'Finland has a unique
culture.' This is uncritically accepted by many ordinary Finns, travel writers
and even foreign and Finnish academics. Why is Finnish culture accepted as
being unique? What do people really mean when they term Finnish culture as 'unique'?
Is Finnish culture really a mystery - an enigma, beyond comparison; something
that can never 'make sense'?

In The Finnuit,
Edward Dutton reveals Finnish 'uniqueness' to be a religious dogma. It reflects
the modern-day religions of Romantic nationalism and its cousin Cultural
Relativism which turn disempowered cultures into mysterious gods to be
worshipped and awed at. And Dutton argues that Finnish culture can be
'understood' - like anything - through comparison. Drawing upon detailed
fieldwork, he finds that Finnish culture makes sense as a diluted Greenland -
the world's most advanced Arctic culture.

Edward Dutton is an English
anthropologist and journalist. He studied Theology at Durham University and
Anthropology of Religion at Aberdeen University. His first book, Meeting
Jesus at University: Rites of Passage and Student Evangelicals, is
published by Ashgate (2008).

'This intriguing study . . .
challenges the myth of Finnish uniqueness through a remarkably direct approach
. . . The study itself becomes unique by means of an original and distinctive
form of argumentation.'

Dr Tarja Laine, Amsterdam
University.

'A very interesting
contribution. A solid piece of scholarship. I am certain that it will prove of
interest to anthropologists working on Finland . . . Thank-you again for the
opportunity to review this.'

Anonymous peer-reviewer for
Arctic Anthropology on an article drawn from The Finnuit.

'I would ask you not to
publish my name in connection with this . . . It is very politically incorrect
and provocative in Finland because Finns are trying to be Westerners after so
long connected to the East . . . I find it intriguing, interesting and
thrilling . . . but I don't think my Finnish colleagues would be too fond of
your thoughts and I have to work with them yet for a couple of years!'

'Hooray! No more we do need
to explain (Finnishness) to foreigners with Finnish sisu, Santa Claus and the
conscientious payment of war reparations. It suffices to say that we are
Finnuits . . . This week's prize (for developing a new Finnish concept) goes to
Mr. Dutton, "you are welcome!"'

Pasi Heikura (Finnish TV
presenter) on Aristotle's Heel, YLE 1 (Finnish national broadcaster radio show
about the Finnish language).

'This book is definitely a
thought-provoking read and it challenges ways of thinking about Finns and
Finland.'